[QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Hamvention Ready to Deal with Anticipated Traffic Flow at New Venue

[Bill]

 From Tony N2MFT:
Hamvention Ready to Deal with Anticipated Traffic Flow at New Venue
01/17/2017Inline image 1

Hamvention® is ready to deal with the anticipated heavy traffic flow 
when the event opens on May 19 at its new location, the Greene County 
Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio. Mike Kalter, W8CI, said the 
all-volunteer Hamvention organizers have turned to professionals to 
address this aspect of the event. Kalter, who is treasurer of the 
sponsoring Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA), was interviewed last 
week by DX Engineering’s Tim Duffy, K3LR.

“We recognized that we needed to reach out to a professional engineering 
firm that does this all over the country to help us to work with the 
local government officials, so that we can have a good solid plan to 
keep the people flowing in,” Kalter told Duffy.

Kalter said arrangements have been made to have staging areas for those 
needing to either offload or load equipment from the indoor exhibit 
areas or the flea market.

He also pointed out that on-site parking would be free, and that no one 
will have to park in the mud. Kalter said areas set aside for parking 
are well drained, and he doesn’t anticipate any problems, even if it 
rains during Hamvention. That goes for the flea market area as well, he 
said, noting that the arena infield area gets used events in good and 
bad weather alike.

Kalter said Hamvention expects to be able to post the plan for flea 
market spaces on its website soon. The layout for indoor vendor and 
exhibitor booths is already available on the Hamvention website. Kalter 
said that if everyone who attended Hamvention 2016 at Hara Arena shows 
up again this year, they will find plenty of room at the new venue. Maps 
are available on the website.

Turning to traffic of a different sort, Kalter noted that Greene County 
has brought in a high-speed Internet “pipe” to the new venue, and AT&T 
will drop telephone lines wherever they’re needed.

Duffy asked whether the new venue would have an area similar to that 
outside Hara Arena, where those attending Hamvention could sit down with 
friends for a bite to eat or a drink. Kalter said there will be plenty 
of picnic tables as well as a temporary structure dedicated for 
socializing. He also promised that Hamvention 2017 will offer “a wide 
variety of great things to eat.” That will include food vendors and food 
trucks.

Kalter said some 600 volunteers in all are required to make Hamvention 
happen each year, and the leadership team consists of 86 individuals.

Reflecting its new venue, “Hamvention — Same Friends, New Home” will be 
the theme for the 2017 event. Last summer’s closure of Hara Arena forced 
the move to the new location more than 20 miles to the southeast.

The price of admission to Hamvention has gone up slightly; tickets will 
now cost $22 for all 3 days ($27 at the door). Accompanied minors 12 or 
younger may attend free. Online ordering is not yet available, but those 
planning to attend can order tickets by mail. Hamvention runs from 
Friday, May 19, until Sunday, May 21.

http://www.arrl.org/news/hamvention-ready-to-deal-with-anticipated-traffic-flow-at-new-venue